C. Of C. `Little Voices' Shout

October 06, 1992|by KEN KUNSMAN, The Morning Call

They wore funny hats, loud shirts and sunglasses, and let passers-by talk to a parrot on a computer screen. And over the gentle sound of a Tahitian melody, Michael Stellato and Brian Dietrich hawked ... well, stuff.

"Useful imprinted articles of merchandise," corrected Stellato, president of ABE Advertising Specialties Co., Inc., of Bethlehem, which puts company logos on everything from pens to coffee mugs.

ABE's "Island Theme" was one of the more colorful displays at the 7th Annual Small Business Showcase and Mixer, where the little voices in the Bethlehem Area Chamber of Commerce can shout at a captive audience.

Businesses paid $150 or $200 (depending on the size of their exhibit) to show off at the Holiday Inn East yesterday from 4 to 7:30 p.m. There were more than 50 exhibits, which Chamber Director Richard Strain said creates an instant business network.

"This is an effort to give our smaller business members the same kind of opportunity the larger ones have through our regular mixer program," Strain said. "People who come looking to see one particular business are now exposed to 50 or so."

Each month, a local business can host a mixer to show off and drum up business. Smaller companies typically don't have the space to accommodate the crowds expected to tour the showcase yesterday. But Strain said those small businesses make up over 95 percent of the chamber's membership.

Among their ranks yesterday were Realtors, insurance companies, banks and caterers. All said the exposure was a certain boon to their business.

"We usually pick up a couple of clients here," said Dietrich, ABE's marketing director. "Mostly we try to have fun."

Chamber President Bert Daday was all smiles as he entered the 8,000 square-foot marketplace, which he called a "great success."

"There are a lot of great products made and sold right here," Daday said. "And a lot of people don't know about them."